It was a tale of two trips for me, when I was pacing with you and then after. So much more fun those first four days. That trail down south, and good company, that I would do again. The rest is going to be a one time thing. Time to get fat again 

Boy how a week can clear bad memories and solidify the good ones.  I am already thinking of next years CTR.  Interested in the group start going west, should be a very different experience.  So many improvements to make on the gear and strategy, this stuff is fun!

Hey all this is ETURK:

I did not bail segment 24 to quit! I did get freaked out by the dark clouds starting to surround me so I bailed to trees (pole creak I think) and camped out! It was about 12:30pm when I was all tented up and like, ok, what do I do now. So I slept, ate, slept, and waited to the morning. I hit over Coney the next day and got out of their! It was beautiful and freaky at the same time. Thunder was LOUD, but no lightning that I saw.

I did pass everyone one by one and it was awoesome to chat up just a bit. You see more people going in reverse - thats for sure - but it is lonely biking alone.

I am in BV right now at another coffee shop and need to get more batters for my headlamp, spot and GPS! GPS wouldn't turn on backlight - headlamp was dim, and spot died last night. Dam I should off had extras cause last night was dark going DOWN to Mount Princeton (I was racing against the available light - dam I made it to the last down just before full dark - so close). Getting a hotel room for tonight, departing tomorrow. 

I had two interesting sheep encounters:  1) After getting up stony pass and into real deal altitude, meet a man on a horse with a dog who didn't speak English - I don't speak Spanish - who told me "Two Sheep!" several times. I said I didn't see them. Then he said "Bam, Bam, Bam!" with his hand in a gesture they would peck at me. I was eating some food then and got the picture - so I said "I go" and he said "go" and then looked over the mtn and about 200 or more sheep started coming towards us! Now I don't have sheep experence, but I bolted! Looked behind me a few times, crossing over a few big ones - no sheep.   2) Ran into someone who told me there were sheep ahead and the dogs were cool - ok - so I guess no worries. Got up to the last feild areas of segement 23 and right on the trail - 500 sheep or so. I was tired and not going to put up with trying to go around - so went right threw them - they moved away real quick when these two dogs came in barking them to split the heard for me - VERY COOL DOGS!

Sergent Mesa - was hard (the end section for me - all those rocks). Section from Hwy 50 to Mount Prinction - was the hardest for me (very ridable, just lots of ups/downs = hard).

So thats my stories so far - still got more riding to do.

ETURK 

Keep on cranking ETURK.  I know what you mean by the lonely eastbound trek, there is no one to pull you along or share in the seemingly endless struggle. No one to help if something goes wrong.  Everything is temporary though, a mantra that got me through. By now your probably feeling stronger, and the last few days will be much more of a mental challenge than anything. For me everything seemed uphill and I was never as far along as I hoped, you are probably there too.  Moments like when I broke an axle coming down the east side of the Tenmile, will test you, push on! The riding does get easier so let that boost your drive.  Lots of cruiser!  The final climbs out of South Platte on the alternate segment 1 were a tough finish, be ready for that and good luck!  Its so worth carrying it through.
Best
Joe Brannan

Marshall pass to HWY 114, good times.

Unless your going east   Segment 17 flooded and covered in piles of hail was an experience I would rather not repeat  

He said there are detour signs telling people to rejoin there (I think), so that you still ride the last switchbacks down to HWY9.  But it appears some people aren't getting that message.  Too bad they chose to today to start the closure.  Bad timing.

Sorry, should have mentioned right after I finished on Sunday but I was in fall on couch mode.  When I rode through there on Saturday the 31st the signs where up but no logging going on around 8am-9am.  They had already completed quite a bit of work based on all the downed trees.  The trail was clear and I just cruised through, along with a few other bikers/hikers. Hope it doesnt confuse the results 

It was a tale of two trips for me, when I was pacing with you and then after. So much more fun those first four days. That trail down south, and good company, that I would do again. The rest is going to be a one time thing. Time to get fat again 

Im Done! What a ride! Ups and Downs... I wiped my butt with the section 17 page out of my tech book. Weather was pretty good overall.  Mostly dry up until after the La Garita detour through Buena Vista, where I was jumping under the tarp every few hours.  Then dry all the way to the barn.  Trail is in bad shape up section 2 (washed out runnels ect.) and section 17 trail was like riding up/down a steep riverbed full of hail and rain.  I wanted to quit.  Thinking of my wife got me through that. 

Brad Nelson, who started with Gabe and I 8am Friday 22nd at Junction Creek, broke his foot on the first day.  Feel for him.

The San Juan sections were stellar.  Love that mountain range.

Thanks for sending us off Joey! Good luck to everyone tomorrow and throughout!

Joe Brannan

Joe, you're live, and I have gdillion.  Who else is starting with you?

Dont know his screen name on here... Brad Nelson.  He has more time than we do and will probably drop back after the first two-three days to maximally 'enjoy the ride.' Thanks Scott!

I've got two of you live on the tracker, but don't see a third.  Just checking to make sure I'm not missing someone carrying a SPOT and signed up for tracking.

Good luck guys!

Scott,

I am the third riding with gdillon. I just signed up and paid this morning... Joe Brannan. Do you see me now?  This is going to be awesome!

Joe